Jul 5, 2014 | Backup, General
What if you were called and told your health insurance company dropped you? What’s the reason they dropped you? They got your credit card purchases and due to those purchases, they want nothing to do with you.
It’s not very far-fetched. Carolinas HealthCare, based in Charlotte, NC, is using consumer data on two million people, without their knowledge or permission, to identify high risk patients. They get the data from brokers who deal in public health records and even credit card purchases. For example, say they find fast food and junk food purchases through your credit/debit card statement, thanks to some data broker. You’re automatically a target for obesity. They find that bar tab on your card. You’re targeted for everything from cirrhosis to depression. The scenarios go on and on.
I understand why some people say this could be a good thing. Doctors and nurses would know your habits even before your first visit. They could know what to treat you for. They can even encourage lifestyle changes before you get too sick. In a just world, that would be true. Let’s face it: this isn’t a just world. First off, data brokers and health care providers shouldn’t be digging dirt on anybody until they have the knowledge and approval of the people. Second, this just tramples on privacy rights. And I think this will worsen doctor-patient relationships. This is going to create mistrust to the point where the patient won’t even want to see the doctor anymore. And you know health providers will probably look at this and reject clients because of ‘too many bad habits’. Do you think this data collection will catch on with other health providers?
Jul 1, 2014 | Computer Repair, General
In this day and age, computers are becoming more and more a necessity than a luxury. Nowadays, you can go to a department store and buy a cheap computer for as little as $300. The problem is that most consumers do not live by an old adage, which is you get what you pay for.
Which begs the question: How much should I actually be spending on a new computer? That question can only be truly answered by you and what you plan on doing with your machine. You have people who just want to play games like solitaire and surf the Web and check email and think a cheap $300 department store computer will do. Which in fact, it probably would, but I wouldn’t bank on it lasting more than the warranty period. We need to educate the consumers on what they should be spending on a computer based on their needs. It is true that computers aren’t made like they used to be. Most computers have an average shelf life of 3-5 years, and that is based off getting quality machines. The basis of a quality machine will most likely run you between $500-800, without a monitor.
Geek Choice does computer repair in Boston and has helped hundreds of consumers find the right computer for their needs. Not only that, but we offer onsite computer repair if something ever happen to those machines. With the consumers that have purchased the $300 computer, they feel as though it is not worth fixing their machine, so they would typically opt to get a new one. But what about the data they have stored on that machine? How do they get it off to the new computer they purchased? When a person comes to Geek Choice in such a dilemma, we explain to them the ability to get a quality machine and go over what we must do to try and get the data off their old machine. If a client believes that the cost may be too great for their pocket, Geek Choice offers a plan to help the consumer. This plan is known as the diamond plan.
If you’re interested in a new computer, please feel free to call Geek Choice at 800-433-5435. If you’re interested in saving some money, please look at our diamond plan page for more information on how to save on the cost of our onsite service.
Jun 15, 2014 | General
I must admit, many CEO’s don’t have that good a reputation today. There’s one report say the average CEO makes 250+ times that of average American wage earners. But I got a different side of one of the most powerful CEO’s today.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was awarded an IQLA (International Quality of Life Award) back in December 2013 for using Apple products to improve the life of people worldwide. Two stories in his speech that night impacted me. The first took place while growing up in Alabama during the 1960s- early ’70s, a place and time of social change. While riding his bike, he passed by a cross burning in front of an African American family home. That family’s humiliation never left Mr. Cook’s mind, and fueled his quest for civil rights and human dignity ever since. The other story was about an email he received from a single mother of an autistic toddler. The iPad the toddler received gave him an outlet he didn’t have before.
This is what drives Mr. Cook: computer technology that can break such barriers. We need to hear more stories like these.? We need to be reminded what we do and build and fix actually impacts peoples’ lives for the better. It should never be just about the dollar bill, but about the human race. Now we can be cynical and tell ourselves things like, “The only reason they say these things is to touch our human side to buy more of their stuff and get our money.”? But let me just daydream for a minute. Wouldn’t it be cool if every CEO sincerely let their human side out?
Disclaimer: This is not an endorsement or promotion of the Apple brand.
Jun 3, 2014 | General
This week, Apple is holding a WWDC (Apple Worldwide Developers Conference) will take place in San Francisco, CA. Let’s see what they’re really up to.
They’re talking new versions of mobile and Mac systems and?new features that should interest the consumer. From what I’m getting, this year’s conference has a more competitive feel to it. It’s no longer enough that your life is better with Apple’s products, they want you to know it’s better than the competition, especially Android. Another big theme is Continuity. That’s how you can combine your Mac, Macbook, iPad and iPhone to work together without effort. Two feature that confirm this are the iCloud Photo Library and Air Drop. One puts all your photos from all your Apple devices into one cloud. The other lets you send wireless documents from one Apple device to another, even form a Mac to an iPod Touch.
These are great signs, especially when you know the competition is catching up. But I don’t think they will. Apple is just too strong of a company and brand to let that happen. But two things Apple can do are keep the prices decent and maybe improve the look of some of it’s products. But definitely remember the prices. I applaud them for having an iPhone 5c for prices as low as $25 a month. They’re going to need more of that. What else does Apple need?
May 30, 2014 | General
The LA Clippers has been a well talked about NBA team. Not because of it’s play, but because of scathing, racist comments made by soon to be former owner Donald Sterling. Whose going to be the next owner?
According to ESPN, an agreement has been made and signed to sell the embattled basketball franchise to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. This isn’t Ballmer’s first attempt at NBA ownership: He tried to purchase the hapless Sacramento Kings and move them to Seattle. Ballmer says he’s honored at this new opportunity and vows to help the Clippers keep their winning ways and better serve greater Los Angeles. But not so fast: According to Donald Sterling’s attorney, there can be no deal until Sterling himself signs. I wouldn’t hold my breath for that one.
Whether Sterling has to, or will agree to, Ballmer owning the Clippers remains to be seen. He has to get 80% of approval from other NBA owners. I doubt this will be a problem. Many in the sports world are looking forward to Ballmer owning the Clippers. Magic Johnson tweeted this as a big win for the franchise and the city. I think most fans are saying that too. I don’t know what kind of owner Steve Ballmer will be. He has some experience with the NBA. He seems to be respected among the sports community. And Ballmer owning the Clippers will speak well for Microsoft that one of their own is now thriving in the sports world. And let’s face it: anything is better than what the Clippers are dealing with now. I read a poll that said Mr. Sterling was now the most hated man in America. Do you think Ballmer will move the team out of LA (he insists he won’t do so)?
May 21, 2014 | General
It’s the time of the year Adweek comes out with it’s most valuable companies. Technology doesn’t impact the list; it takes the list over.
In the top 10 alone, six are technology related. Leading the pack are Google (#1), Apple (#2), IBM (#3) and Microsoft (#4), AT&T (#8), and Amazon (#10). Other tech/computer based brand that made the top 100 are Facebook, Twitter, Ebay, Verizon, Linkedin, Sap, T Mobile, Hewlett Packard, Yahoo, Intel, and many others. They looked at companies involving technology, cars, food, drink and restaurants, retail, banks/financial institutions among others. I guess we could bring Nike because their Fuel Brand is helping them go up. Many say Apple and Google are starting a modern day revelation, and that’s why they’re number one or two.
This shows you how powerful and important technology is today. And I’ve noticed a few things. The fact that AT&T is in the top 10…was that before or after the merger of Direct TV? I notice lots of China based tech companies are on here. Tencent ranked the highest of these companies, at #14. I notice Comcast isn’t on the list, nor is NBC/Universal. They’re also on the verge on a mega merge. It’s just an observation. One company we may never see up here is WWE( World Wrestling Entertainment). They just lost hundreds of millions of dollars launching their own network. But which tech company do you think should, or should not, make the top 100 most valuable list?
